One of the hottest debates of 2022 would be moonlighting also known as Dual Employment. 

First Wipro, Now Infosys says No room for Moonlighters, Infosys has joined the bandwagon of letting go of employees who opted for secondary employment. During the briefing of Q2 earnings, the CEO of Infosys, Salil Parekh said that the company does not support dual employment.

Over the last 12 months, many employees who were indulging in moonlighting have been ‘let go’. However, this happened to those with whom there were confidentiality issues. Nevertheless, the company is developing a procedure that would allow staff members work on different projects both inside and outside of Infosys. Along with Infosys, even Wipro, another top Indian IT company, fired 300 employees in the previous month for working with rival companies.

How does a company find out about the side gig?

One way is by examining the Universal Account Number to validate work history. Another technique is by checking PF contributions. If they are from more than one employer, then it is a major indicator of an employee is on a different payroll at the same time. 

When is moonlighting problematic?

Taking on secondary jobs is not an issue, but doing so for a rival, the competing company most definitely is. When there is a major conflict of interest, firms usually bring it under the ambit of ethics and take action against employees.

Is it completely illegal?

Moonlighting is not a fresh development. Teacher have been taking coaching classes or tuitions after school hours, doctors have been consulting privately after working hours, freelancers work for numerous clients at once and so forth. 

So, no. It is not completely illegal or forbidden. Also, it is not explicitly mentioned in any of the law books. 

However, it becomes a problem if a person is simultaneously employed by a competing business and under two formal legal contracts.

What is the main cause of concern?

Among many other problems are associated with the practice besides the obvious ones like privacy breaches. A burnt-out employee is basically an overworked employee. Both physical and mental incompetency can reduce a worker’s output. Therefore, the purpose of taking time off, going for a holiday and resting is completely lost.

To turn this into a positive phenomenon, both the employees and the management need to look at it from a fresh perspective with a new viewpoint. Severe disciplinary action must be implemented against an employee if it impacts the company detrimental. It would then be safe to define moonlighting as an unjustifiable practice.

However, if the employee is being honest about it and moonlighting is not turning into daylighting or hampering the output of the employee, then the management need not bother. The individual has the right to select his line of work in his leisure time. Read more

(Inputs from various media organisations.)

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Wipro Limited (formerly, Western India Palm Refined Oils Limited) is an Indian multinational corporation that provides information technology, consulting and business process services. Thierry Delaporte is serving as CEO and managing director of Wipro from July 2020.^[4]

Wipro’s capabilities range across cloud computing, cyber security, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics, and other technology consulting services to customers in 67 countries.^[5